Put together a curry in the crockpot (which I bought a week ago for $10 off craigslist) and put it in the fridge to get started tomorrow morning just before I go to work.

Share the recipe? All my curries are hands-on, and I need more crockpot recipes.

Here it is! http://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/2011/11/slow-cooker-thai-red-curry-chicken.htmlWell, approximately - regular mushrooms instead of shiitakes, and green beans instead of bamboo shoots. It involves some browning beforehand which I did at night, then put it in the slow cooker and into the fridge to get started today. I'm cooking it on low instead of high as it says in the directions, because I'll be gone longer than the 3-4 hours it wants on high.

I've never owned a crockpot before, so I can't vouch for it, but hoping things turn out. There are a lot of good looking recipes on that website.

I've been wanting to get the Netflix on the upstairs TV but it's an older flatscreen that doesn't have a USB port. I've been looking at new TVs with a bluray for about 250 total. I didnt want to shell out that kind of money, so I've been waiting and waiting for a cheaper option. Well, I found out that the older Roku units use the colored AV cables. I got one for 35$ refurbished on amazon. I used 10$ discover bonus to discount and paid 25$ out of pocket. Just set it up and it works great. 1/10th the price for what's essentially a luxury item. Small victory.

Visited the in-laws and picked almost 5 gallons of plums off their plum tree. I left them with almost a gallon as a "fee". :)

Then we traded a huge watermelon and 3 colored peppers (bought for $7 total) for a couple pounds of their erroneously purchased italian sausage.

(Today I also spent over $300 on a tank of gas ($26), household stuff, toiletries, and groceries from walmart ($131), clothes and shoes for the family from walmart ($85) , and a trunk full of groceries from Aldi ($70), but nobody has to know about my spendthrift nature!)

Canceled my Sunday New York Times subscription, thus saving $38 month. The waste of trees and fact that I use it for gift wrap more than read it (plenty of free online articles) is a total face-punch and worthy of putting me in a pillory in the town square. But that was then, this is now. Onward!

Put together a curry in the crockpot (which I bought a week ago for $10 off craigslist) and put it in the fridge to get started tomorrow morning just before I go to work.

Share the recipe? All my curries are hands-on, and I need more crockpot recipes.

Here it is! http://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/2011/11/slow-cooker-thai-red-curry-chicken.htmlWell, approximately - regular mushrooms instead of shiitakes, and green beans instead of bamboo shoots. It involves some browning beforehand which I did at night, then put it in the slow cooker and into the fridge to get started today. I'm cooking it on low instead of high as it says in the directions, because I'll be gone longer than the 3-4 hours it wants on high.

I've never owned a crockpot before, so I can't vouch for it, but hoping things turn out. There are a lot of good looking recipes on that website.

Thanks! Do post the result, will you?

Generally, by the way, I skip the browning stage for meats in the crock pot. It's meant to seal in the juices, and it may help with beef, keeping it moist. This shouldn't be any sort of problem with chicken, so you might consider trying it and saving some time next time if this recipe turns out. The frying of the curry paste is probably necessary, though, so it may be that it doesn't save enough trouble to matter.

Delayed update -- this was delicious - the curry was a bit watery, I think because I increased the fresh veggies in it and they release water as they cook, but that's not a big deal.

Made a metric ass-ton of hummus and froze most of it for later. Also made the tahini for it - so easy, never buying premade tahini again.

Improved the hops trellis on the south side of the house so that it will shade the windows more, and finally put the last mini-blind in, for additional shade. The basement has the only south-facing windows in the house, and I bought blinds for them shortly after we moved in four years ago, and this was the last one waiting to be finally installed.

Thanks for this tip! I didn't know you could freeze hummus. Does the texture change when you thaw it or can your really not tell that its been frozen? If so, I too will be making that much hummus! haha!

A fellow Mustachian recommended a layer of olive oil on top before freezing, so I did that this time. However, I froze some for a few weeks from my last batch without the oil and it just needed a stir due to some very minor separation of the oil, and it was impossible to tell it had ever been frozen.

Drank iced tea that I brewed at home (using gifted tea bags)Ate a free breakfast at workLeft home at earlier to avoid traffic (cuts my commute time by about 10 minutes)Packed a can of soup for lunch (cleaning out our cabinets)

I'm glad to hear all the picking-up coins stories. My spouse ladles a generous measure of scorn on me for this and last weekend I picked up 3 separate pennies in his presence. But then later that evening when a co-worker was giving me a ride home I spotted a twenty dollar bill flowing swiftly downhill in the gutter! Being attuned to looking for money on the ground I was able to react quickly and grab it.

Today I was loading up my metro card and noticed a card lying on the ground. You see discarded cards a lot (discarded! ha!) and the MTA instituted a $1 new card fee ostensibly to cut down on the amount of trash this created in the stations. While it's easy to avoid, I do see a number of people in my neighborhood or tourists downtown having to cough up a buck and it seems unfair. So, both for my own needs and out of a charitable instinct, I'll keep a couple extra blanks on me. I used the machine to check the one I had just found (sometimes they're expired or un-fillable for some other reason) and discovered it had $2.45 on it! Only a nickel short of a full fare, which I assume is why someone left it?

So, anyway, those are instances of acquiring money, not saving it, but, uh... seemed like they would fit in.

They are very good, but have more sugar than I'm used to, or like. I'm going to try different versions with less sugar on future rounds.

Thank you bunches! I've copied the recipe and plan to try these soon! We certainly buy the ones at the store a lot (mainly from Aldi now), but making them at home means we can control what goes in AND save money too!

But without the added preservatives, what do you do to keep the bars fresh for a week or so?

I'm glad to hear all the picking-up coins stories. My spouse ladles a generous measure of scorn on me for this and last weekend I picked up 3 separate pennies in his presence. But then later that evening when a co-worker was giving me a ride home I spotted a twenty dollar bill flowing swiftly downhill in the gutter! Being attuned to looking for money on the ground I was able to react quickly and grab it.

Today I was loading up my metro card and noticed a card lying on the ground. You see discarded cards a lot (discarded! ha!) and the MTA instituted a $1 new card fee ostensibly to cut down on the amount of trash this created in the stations. While it's easy to avoid, I do see a number of people in my neighborhood or tourists downtown having to cough up a buck and it seems unfair. So, both for my own needs and out of a charitable instinct, I'll keep a couple extra blanks on me. I used the machine to check the one I had just found (sometimes they're expired or un-fillable for some other reason) and discovered it had $2.45 on it! Only a nickel short of a full fare, which I assume is why someone left it?

So, anyway, those are instances of acquiring money, not saving it, but, uh... seemed like they would fit in.

Nice finds!

I have been commuting on foot for the past 6 - 7 weeks, and the amount of money I have picked up has been ridiculous! Two days ago, as I approached a roundabout, I saw a smallish piece of paper being whipped around by the wind and passing cars. I went out of my way to get closer to it--and spotted the number 5. Yep--a $5 bill. Sweet! And I get immense pleasure from finding quarters in the streets. I love this free money. And it is tax free! Goes in my spreadsheet in the "Other Income" column. :)

Makes me feel sorry (almost) for all the clowns who drive past all the money on the ground. Get out of your cars, people!! It's nice out here!!

Well, this is technically something I did last night but I finally stopped procrastinating and created craigslist postings for two pieces of furniture (twin bed frame and queen air mattress) and a brand new iphone otterbox case - none of which I currently need. I've already started to get some emails of interest, and plan to continue to do some craigslist purging if this option proves to be profitable. I also met about a potential side hustle, the profits of which would solely go towards eliminating debt. Happy saving everyone!

SO and I are trying to drink less soda (a bad bad habit I'm trying to get away from). We drink water, but I prefer something w/ taste. So we are drinking some of those powdered things you just mix w/ water.

I have a 2 Quart pitcher. According to the directions on this sweet drink, 4 scoops = 1 quart. Therefore, 8 scoops = 2 quarts. Unintentionally, I only put 4 scoops. I didn't realize this mistake until after my SO and I finished the entire pitcher and I was making a second one. I was super happy when I realized this mistake because it made me realize how I was cutting my sugar intake and increasing the amount of drinks we will be able to get from a single container. The drink actually tastes way better when there mores water and less powdered substance. A lot of drinks that are super sugary make my teeth/gums cringe as I'm drinking it.

Can't wait for my SO to try and make it himself and wonder why his drink suddenly tastes too sweet when he makes it. =p

Along the lines of "not drinking soda" - we walked to the grocery store and they had sodas on sale for $0.59 for a 2 liter if you buy 4. Not wanting to carry 8 liters of soda back home, we skipped it (and stuck to ice cream and bananas - two totally unrelated purchases).

I have started using an app called Ibotta. It gives cash rebates on food purchases-- plus a few other things. I mostly like it because at my grocery store, it offers rebates on things like milk, chicken, beef, eggs and produce. Stuff you don't normally see coupons for. I've gotten $60 in 3 weeks-- goes right into my PayPal. I never considered myself a coupon person, but it's working so far.

Noticed, via Mint that I had been overcharged for an item I bought online that was backordered. Called up the company and they'd accidentally charged me $8.95 shipping, when it should have been free, so they said they'd reverse the charge.

Not really money saving, but when I was out running today, I saw about a 12' piece of oak crown moulding on the side of the road. It was in good shape, and I was less than a mile from home, so I picked it up and carried it back with me.

Usually I buy coffee and a donut every morning before work to the tune of $2.25--a really bad habit. Not breaking it quite yet but last night at the end of my run I ended up at the finish line of a race and since I blended in with the actual runners I took the apple and granola bar on offer to finishers. Saved it to eat this a.m. and used the keurig at work.

Thanks to MMM forum, I now have milk, sugar and tea at office and very tiny coffee expenses last 6 months. Loved that I have the options at hand when I want rather than spend money. Have access to multiple fridges at office so I keep the milk there and use it for tea/cereals as I feel the need. Loved the convenience at finger tips.

I've saved so much keeping a plunger and coffee at the office (I'm partial to Gloria Jeans hazlenut praline scented coffee). I still go on the mid-morning coffee run for company, but am getting used to not buying a coffee. In fact, my office is moderately frugal (public servants) so of the 5 regulars in our expedition, four have eased off buying anything! When the last one stops buying coffee, we'll have to find a new way to catch up!

SO and I are trying to drink less soda (a bad bad habit I'm trying to get away from). We drink water, but I prefer something w/ taste. So we are drinking some of those powdered things you just mix w/ water.

I have a 2 Quart pitcher. According to the directions on this sweet drink, 4 scoops = 1 quart. Therefore, 8 scoops = 2 quarts. Unintentionally, I only put 4 scoops. I didn't realize this mistake until after my SO and I finished the entire pitcher and I was making a second one. I was super happy when I realized this mistake because it made me realize how I was cutting my sugar intake and increasing the amount of drinks we will be able to get from a single container. The drink actually tastes way better when there mores water and less powdered substance. A lot of drinks that are super sugary make my teeth/gums cringe as I'm drinking it.

Can't wait for my SO to try and make it himself and wonder why his drink suddenly tastes too sweet when he makes it. =p

Have you considered adding fruit to your water? Add some frozen berries to a pitcher full of water and keep it in the fridge, or add some to your water bottle if you take one to work with you. Another tasty alternative is cucumber slices. It may sound odd, but it's rather lovely, costs pennies per serving and is much better for you than anything Corporate-Food wishes to sell you.

I've saved so much keeping a plunger and coffee at the office (I'm partial to Gloria Jeans hazlenut praline scented coffee). I still go on the mid-morning coffee run for company, but am getting used to not buying a coffee. In fact, my office is moderately frugal (public servants) so of the 5 regulars in our expedition, four have eased off buying anything! When the last one stops buying coffee, we'll have to find a new way to catch up!

I had lunch at a fancy buffet after my end-of-the-semester faculty meeting! I wouldn't have eaten that much fancy food if I had to pay for it, so I guess I didn't really save money. But it was nice to treat myself to a nice gorge-fest. Four plates and a cup of punch down the hatch.

Biking back home from the gym at 530am I remembered we ran out of eggs for breakfast. I started to fixate on an egg mcmuffin, rationalizing by telling myself no stores would be open at 530. After I passed the 2nd open bodega, I bought a dozen eggs and a chobani for $5 at the 3rd open one. I literally had to shake my head to help get rid of the mcmuffin fixation.I overpaid for the eggs by 50 cents but at least it was cheaper than the mcmuffin meal and I'll get a couple of bkfsts out of it.